I'd be pretty upset if I was a Devil's fan as there's still only something like a 2% shot of the playoffs, but there's also not going to be a high pick. Should have waited until next year for this run.

Frankly, I'm happy that we're not looking ahead to 14 more years of Kovalchuk playing like an career-AHL skill player for one.

Draft picks are nice, but only if they develop. And right now, some of the no-name rookies on the Devils defense are playing really well.

I was a little annoyed when they first started winning (ah the tank mentality of hfboards), but at this point, I'm happy with the run even if they miss the playoffs. It shows that with an NHL-calibre coach and a locker room cancer out of the room, the team will be competitive next season even without a fancy draft pick.

The one thing that does really annoy me is that in reality, Lou probably just waited a week or two too long to fire MacLean...

I thought the official story was that he wasn't that bad... or did this incredible run after his firing prove he actually was?

He was that bad. After the very first game Lemaire coached, he told the media he was shocked by how every player on the team was tired by the 3rd period - basically the entire team was out of shape.

Lemaire also said he couldn't understand how the entire team had "forgotten how to play the game."

Those two things rest squarely on coaching.

Then there is veteran Henrik Tallinder, who looked sub-AHL quality under MacLean pulling it together under Lemaire. Tallinder told the media something along the lines of "it's a big change now, actually knowing what I'm supposed to be doing on the ice."

Kovalchuk is on fire.
Kovalchuk - Lemaire connection is working pretty well..who would have thought?

Kovalchuk loves Lemaire for whatever reason. I think it's because Kovalchuk wants to play winning hockey, he just has no idea how, largely because he's never been coached in his adult life, apparently. Lemaire actually teaches Kovalchuk how to play team hockey.

Kovalchuk loves Lemaire for whatever reason. I think it's because Kovalchuk wants to play winning hockey, he just has no idea how, largely because he's never been coached in his adult life, apparently. Lemaire actually teaches Kovalchuk how to play team hockey.

Kovalchuk loves Lemaire for whatever reason. I think it's because Kovalchuk wants to play winning hockey, he just has no idea how, largely because he's never been coached in his adult life, apparently. Lemaire actually teaches Kovalchuk how to play team hockey.

That sucks, Kovalchuk is obviously a great player, he just has a bad reputation for some reason.

I remember a year after they won the cup they had the best record in the league the last couple of months but because of a slow season start missed the playoffs by a point or two, to the relief of other teams, given how good they were down the stretch.

That sucks, Kovalchuk is obviously a great player, he just has a bad reputation for some reason.

Yeah, it's a shame he had to spend to much of his prime in Atlanta, because Kovalchuk is an absolutely tremendous talent. Maybe he can change perceptions of him in New Jersey. There is no doubt in my mind that Ilya will do what it takes to help his team win. The perception of him as some kind of flake/floater sissy goalscorer is just ridiculous, in my opinion. The guy's just never had a chance before now to play hockey for a franchise that actually cared about winning.

Back in the summer while researching for the MLD, I found google news searches to be much more user-friendly. For example, I was able to filter out results that were pay-per-view. Then for a while I could only do that on my laptop and not my PC, and for a long time now I haven't been able to do that.

Also, how come it says "6,610 results" but I have only two pages to search?

Back in the summer while researching for the MLD, I found google news searches to be much more user-friendly. For example, I was able to filter out results that were pay-per-view. Then for a while I could only do that on my laptop and not my PC, and for a long time now I haven't been able to do that.

Also, how come it says "6,610 results" but I have only two pages to search?

If you have clicked on a result and then you search using the search bar up above, it shows the results under the main Google news interface, not the archive interface, which is less useful. Make sure you go back to the archive search page to do your search.

If you have clicked on a result and then you search using the search bar up above, it shows the results under the main Google news interface, not the archive interface, which is less useful. Make sure you go back to the archive search page to do your search.

aha! There's the page I recognize.

strange that it's "hidden" like that. when I do a search, the option to search the archives is on the left for me to click, but apparently it is not the same thing as doing an archive search - go figure!

This is from last June, but it is mostly accurate, still. This is simply a count of my most-occurring artists in my mp3 collection and not necessarily my favourites in order. Although it does a decent cursory job.